SILLAGINIDAE


Sillago intermedius, 4.3 cm SL
(photo by Koichi Shibukawa)


Sillago intermedius
Wongratana, 1977
Intermediate Sillago

D XI+I, 21-22; A II, 21-22; LLp 67-70.

Body elongate, subcylindrical, covered with ctenoid scales; first pelvic-fin ray normal, not thickened club-like structure; swimbladder with 2 posterior extensions; anterior margin with 2 divergent blind tubes that extend to basioccipital above auditory capsule; an anterolateral extension on each side, each sending a blind tubule anteriorly and then curving posteriorly along abdominal wall as a simple tube to terminate just posterior to the ductlike process; vertebrae 14 + 5 + 15 (total 34). Color: sides of body just below lateral line with longitudinal row of dusky black spots, and a series of saddle-like dusky black blotches. Size: maximum SL about 20 cm. Distribution: eastern Indian Ocean: India and Thailand. Remarks: occurs inshore on open silty bottom, at 0-10 m depths.